Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tessunday Improved’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tessunday Improved’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit; yellow and light red purple-colored flowers with short pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESSUNDAY IMPROVED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tessunday Improved’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new potted garden Alstroemeria plants that flower continuously and have attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tessunday’, not patented. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Tessunday’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in June, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tessunday Improved’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tessunday Improved’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Yellow and light red purple-colored flowers with short         pedicels.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Tessunday’. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of ‘Tessunday’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are larger and more vigorous         than plants of ‘Tessunday’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than         plants of ‘Tessunday’.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tespurplin’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tespurplin’ in flower color as plants of ‘Tespurplin’ have darker red purple-colored flowers with more and longer stripes. In addition, plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than plants of ‘Tespurplin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tessunday Improved’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the winter in 4.6-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Kudelstaart, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 16° C. and night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 14° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tessunday Improved’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria     hybrida ‘Tessunday’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy; up to 2 cm in thickness;             white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded habit;             freely branching habit with about 23 primary lateral             branches developing per plant, dense and bushy appearance;             sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 23.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 38.7 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Length.—About 12.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 9 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to N144D with a dull outer layer, close to             144D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Elongated and narrowly cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B to             143C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B and N138B;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 143A to 143B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to             6 mm. Color: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged             in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth             segments separate; freely flowering habit with about seven             flowers per inflorescence and about 150 flowers developing             per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from early April             through the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Proximal half, close to 145D; distal,             heavily tinged with close to 68B; venation, close to 143A to             143B.         -   Umbel height.—About 13.1 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 15.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 8.4 cm by 8.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.1 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 2.4 cm. Length, median segment:             About 5.5 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.4 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, all segments: About 6.2 cm. Width,             all segments: About 3.9 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Narrowly obovate. Shape, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Obcordate. Apex,             inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Abruptly acute.             Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Broadly             retuse with a small abruptly acute point. Base, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Attenuate or             cuneate. Margin, inner and outer perianths, lateral and             median segments: Entire. Texture, inner and outer perianths,             lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner             perianth: When opening, all segments, upper surface: Close             to 4B; towards the apex, close to N74C; apex, close to 146C             to 146D; spots and streaks, close to 187A. When opening, all             segments, lower surface: Close to 1D and 2C; towards the             apex, close to N74D; central band, close to 63B; apex, close             to 146C to 146D; spots and streaks, close to 195A. Fully             opened, all segments, upper surface: Close to 12B; towards             the apex, close to N74C; small central blotch, close to 63B;             towards the base, close to 8C; spots and streaks, close to             187A; with development, color becomes closer to 77C with             spots and streaks, close to 187B. Fully opened, all             segments, lower surface: Close to 9C; towards the apex,             close to N74D; central band, close to 63B; towards the base,             close to 9D; spots and streaks, close to 195A. Color, outer             perianth: When opening, all segments, upper surface: Towards             the apex, close to 75A; apex, close to 146B; towards the             base, close to 4D; central blotch, close to 70B. When             opening, all segments, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 75B; apex, close to 146B; towards the base, close             to 157C; central blotch, close to 70B. Fully opened, all             segments, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 75A to             75C and N74C; apex, close to 146B to 146C; towards the base,             close to 155C; central blotch, close to 70B. Fully opened,             all segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 75A             to 75B; apex, close to 146B; towards the base, close to             155C; central blotch, close to 64B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 30° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 3.7 cm. Filament color: Close to 75A;             towards the base, close to 75D. Anther shape: Oblong to             elliptical. Anther length: About 7 mm. Anther color: Close             to 152D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             195B to 195C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 3.9 cm. Style length: About 3.4 cm. Style             color: Close to 76B to 76D. Stigma shape: Tri-parted; parts,             club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close to 70A to 70B.             Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind and     rain. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been observed to tolerate     high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 8. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tessunday Improved’ as illustrated and described. 